Application of the semivariogram textural classifier (STC) for vegetation discrimination using SIR-B data of Borneo

Abstract

Classification of Shuttle Imaging Radar-B (SIR-B) data from a rainforest-covered portion of Borneo is performed using image texture. The algorithm used is the semivariogram textural classifier (STC). This is a deterministic, supervised parallelepiped type classifier which provides the option of combining textural and radiometric information. Textural information is expressed by the semivariogram function. Radiometric information is conveyed by the mean digital number (DN) value. Results of the classificaiion cmulale a previously published map obtained by visual interpretation of the same SIR-B data set.     

Effect of Frozen Storage on the Gel-forming Properties of Hoki (Macruronus novaezelandiae)

The possibility of using frozen hoki to make surimi was investigated. At intervals, fish were thawed under controlled conditions and gels were then made from minces of the flesh. Both puncture and torsion tests showed the quality of gels declined with duration of storage of frozen hoki. This decline was matched by a decrease in pH and an increase in formaldehyde concentration in the frozen flesh. The data suggest a land-based surimi plant could not be operated outside the harvesting season to any appreciable extent using frozen hoki stored at -29°C.     

Effect of Water and Serum Absorption on Wear of Unirradiated and Crosslinked UHMWPE Orthopedic Bearing Materials

Abstract

In addition to confounding mass-based wear measurements in serum-lubricated hip simulator experiments, fluid absorption by the acetabular cups may simultaneously modify the wear resistance of the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) from which they are composed. To decouple the fluid absorption and wear processes enabling clearer investigation of this effect, absorption was first imposed during an initial stage where UHMWPE was exposed to pressurized (10 MPa) fluid. This was followed by a second stage, where resultant wear behavior was assessed by a multidirectional pin-on-flat technique that, though still providing a serum-lubricating environment, does not promote the simultaneous fluid absorption occurring in hip simulator testing. Both unirradiated and highly crosslinked UHMWPE were investigated, each with both bovine calf serum and water soaking exposures of duration to 129 days. The pressurized soaking of a highly crosslinked UHMWPE decreased its wear resistance, causing an increase in wear rate by approximately 50% during subsequent serum-lubricated multidirectional pin-on-flat sliding tests as compared to non-soaked material. The magnitude of this effect did not appear to depend on whether the soaking fluid was water or serum, nor did it appear to depend on soak time provided it was at least of a 14-day duration, during which more rapid transient fluid absorption occurs. Such soaking did not produce as pronounced an effect on unirradiated UHMWPE, as its lack of wear resistance likely causes the absorption-affected surface region to be removed within the earliest stages of sliding contact.     

Strength of Gels Prepared from Washed and Unwashed Minces of Hoki (Macruronus novaezelandiae) Stored in Ice

Washed and unwashed fish minces were prepared from hoki that had been stored in ice. Gels were formed from the minces, cooked at both 60°C and 90°C and assessed by puncture, torsion and a folding test method. The strength of the gels decreased as the fish were stored. However, after 10 days, the strength of gels made from hoki minces still compared favorably with gels made from other commercial fish species without storage. This suggests that manufacture of hoki surimi on-shore may be practical. Fish freshness as evaluated by sensory methods was closely related to the K value and gel strength. Hence K values might provide the basis of a raw material quality control system for an on-shore surimi plant.     

Vapor Analysis of the Production by Banana Fruit of Certain Volatile Constituents

SUMMARY: Direct gas chromatographic vapor analyses were utilized to determine whether banana slices at different stages of ripeness in an in vitro system produced iso-amyl acetate and iso-amyl alcohol, known banana aroma constituents; and whether a precursor-product relationship could be observed between these compounds and L-leucine. Production of iso-amyl acetate by unripe slices was demonstrated based on experiments with metabolic inhibitors. The behavior of ripe and overripe slices was inconclusive since the vapor concentration of the acetate remained constant. The vapor concentration of iso-amyl alcohol was essentially unchanged at all ripeness stages. Investigations with L-leucine-U-¹⁴C showed conclusively that leucine was a precursor and that both compounds were continually produced at all ripeness stages. The interpretation of direct vapor analyses over respiring fruit is considered.     

A RESEARCH NOTE DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF VITAMIN E AFFECTS THE PEROXIDE VALUE OF SUBCUTANEOUS LAMB FAT

Lipid oxidation is a major problem causing flavor deterioration in meat products. The objective of this research was to utilize an iodometric peroxide value method (PV) to analyze the effects of dietary Vitamin E on lipid oxidation of subcutaneous lamb fat. Peroxide value analyses demonstrated lower lipid oxidation in the fat from animals fed 300 IU (7 days and 21 days) of Vitamin E than in the fat from animals fed diets supplemented with 15 IU (control) (P < 0.05). At 9 and II days of storage, PV analyses also demonstrated a greater rate of increase (P < 0.05) in lipid oxidation in fat from lambs fed control diets than in fat from animals fed 300 IU of Vitamin E. Results indicate that higher dietaty Vitamin E for either 7 days or 21 days antemortem reduced the rate and initiation of lipid oxidation in subcutaneous lamb fat.     

DEVELOPMENT OF A PHOTOGRAPHIC SCALE FOR THE VISUAL EVALUATION OF APPLE STRIPE DENSITY1

This research developed a photographic scale for the evaluation of stripe density for 5 apple cultivars (Carousel, 8M-15-10, Fuji, Gala, and Jonagold) using a series of two experiments. In Experiment 1, subjects were able to significantly discriminate and reproducibly score the stripe density of apples using unstructured graphic line scales. Photographs of selected apples were then labelled with the corresponding mean scores and used as visual references for Experiment 2. In Experiment 2, subjects reproducibly evaluated the stripe density of apples using structured line scales (anchored with 3 or 5 photographic references), with similar mean scores from the 3- or 5-point scales. Subject differed very little in their variances reflecting the potential usefulness of these line scales for commercial evaluation of apple stripe density in whole apples.     

EFFECTS OF ANTI-LMM ANTIBODIES ON THE SOLUBILITY OF CHICKEN SKELETAL MUSCLE MYOSIN

Monoclonal antibody Fab fragments which bind epitopes in the rod domain of skeletal muscle myosin had specific effects on the solubility properties of chicken muscle myosin in vitro. Two antibodies (NA4 and 5C3), which bind at the C-terminal portion of the rod domain caused myosin to remain soluble and monomeric in 0.1 M KCl, pH 7.2, conditions in which myosin normally aggregates into filamentous structures. Other antibodies (EB165 and AB8), which bind in the middle of the rod did not alter either myosin solubility or the morphology of the myosin assemblies formed. These results demonstrate the importance of the C-terminus of the myosin rod as a domain involved in regulating myosin interactions and solubility.     

Comparison and accuracy of methods to determine the confocal volume for quantitative fluorescence correlation spectroscopy

Single molecule detection based on fluorescent labels offers the possibility to gain not only qualitative but also quantitative insight into specific functions of complex biological systems. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy is one of the favourite techniques to determine concentrations and diffusion constants as well as molecular brightness of molecules in the pico‐ to nano‐molar concentration range, with broad applications in biology and chemistry. Although fluorescence correlation spectroscopy in principle has the potential to measure absolute concentrations and diffusion coefficients, the necessity to know the exact size and shape of the confocal volume very often hampers the possibility to obtain quantitative results and restricts fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to relative measurements mainly. The determination of the confocal volume in situ is difficult because it is sensitive to optical alignment and aberrations, optical saturation and variations of the index of refraction as observed in biological specimen. In the present contribution, we compare different techniques to characterize the confocal volume and to obtain the confocal parameters by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy curve fitting, a fluorescence correlation spectroscopy dilution series and confocal scanning of fluorescent beads. The results are compared in the view of quantitative fluorescence correlation spectroscopy measurement and analysis. We investigate how unavoidable artefacts caused by a non‐ideal confocal volume can be experimentally determined and validated.